A day after seeing its hopes of hosting next week's Pura Cup final against Queensland snuffed out, Victoria today seemed to lose interest in its final round match against Western Australia at the MCG.

The Vics went into the match needing to win outright, but also needing the Bulls not to take a point in their match against New South Wales, to host the final for the first time in ten years.

But the two first innings points secured by Queensland yesterday put paid to that.

And knowing they had to travel to Queensland, where they have not won outright since 1983-84, for the final for the second successive year clearly seemed to affect the Victorian effort today.

Not only did the Bushrangers allow the Warriors to reach a respectable 215 in their first innings, after they resumed at 8-164 on day two today, but then the home side batted as slowly as Western Australia did yesterday before a late flurry saw them reach 5-143 at stumps.

The Vics' scoring rate was not helped by a slow MCG pitch and outfield, but it was hardly the sort of display to inspire confidence ahead of next Friday's daunting trip to Brisbane.

After taking nearly an hour and a half to wrap up the Warriors' innings, thanks to Matthew Nicholson's highest first class score of 48, the Vics made a disastrous start when Matthew Elliott was out for 10 in the final over before lunch in bizarre circumstances.

The former Australian opener edged Brad Williams to Brendon Julian at second slip but the ball deflected off his knee and ballooned to Marcus North at third slip, who took a great diving catch.

Resuming at 1-15 after lunch, the Vics managed only 55 runs in a middle session notable for the slow batting of No. 3 Matthew Mott.

Mott batted the entire session for only 21 runs and was eventually out for 23 off 99 balls, not one of which he appeared likely to middle.

However, the wicket the Warriors most needed was that of Brad Hodge, but he was dropped on 32 and 39 by Julian at second slip and North in the gully respectively.

And the little right hander made the Warriors pay by finally picking up the run rate in the final hour to end up unbeaten on 52 at stumps as he passed the 1000-run mark for the season.

If the Warriors can pick up Hodge's wicket early tomorrow they will still have a chance of upsetting the Vics, who on today's performance appear to be already thinking about next week's final.

© 2001 AAP